This site examines many Bible subjects. Find what you are looking for by using the highlighted category links below or by using the search boxes.

Search Related Sites

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Valentine's Day - Its Origins And Associations

SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY

"Ancient Romans placed great stress upon holidays that fell about the middle of the shortest month of the year. DedicatedtothegoddessJuno, who was the wife of Jupiter, these festivals stressed love, courtship, and marriage.

"That was appropriate since Juno, queen of heaven, was regarded as the special protector of women in `critical times of life.'....

"When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire by edict of Emperor Constantine, religious leaders immediately startedtryingtodoawaywithpaganfestivals. Many of them had been observed for so many centuries that they resisted all frontal attacks, so there were many efforts to bring about change in a more subtle fashion. One of the most effective was a substitution of a Christian [?] observance for a pagan one, with special ceremonies held on or near the date of the long-established holiday.

"Since the martyrdom of St. Valentine was celebrated on February 14, it made sense to stress homage to the man who was said to have been stoned to death on that day in A. D. 269. For that reason the name of a man about whom no written records exist came to be attached to the day formerly dedicated to Juno." - HowItStarted, pp. 46-47.

"Valentine's Day comes on the feast of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine. But the customs connected with the day ... probably came from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. The festival honoredJuno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, andPan, the god of nature." - TheWorldBookEncyclopedia, p. 204, Vol. 20, 1973 ed.

Some would say that it's wrong to pay such homage to dead men, whether Catholic "Saints" or not, but certainly it's incredibly wrong to mix in pagan ceremonies honoringpagangods in the process. Martin Luther wrote,

"The pity is that we are so blind that we do not leave the devil alone to play his tricks in his own way; rather, we support him and multiply them. I wish people would leave the saints in peace, and not mislead humble folk. What spirit was it that gave the pope authority to canonize saints? Who tells him whether they are holy or not? .... God is just in judging us with His wrath and in allowing the devil to lead us hither and thither, to institute pilgrimages, ... to set about canonizing saints and other foolish things." - p. 458, MartinLuther, SelectionsFromHisWritings, Dr. John Dillenberger, Anchor Books, Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1961.

"What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? .... `Therefore come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord. `Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you ...' says the Lord Almighty." - 2 Cor. 6:16, 17, NIVSB. [NIVSB f.n.: "agreement...between the temple of God and idols. There can be noreversion to or compromise with the idolatry they have forsaken for the gospel (cf. 1 Th. 1:9)."]For more concerning St. Valentine's Day, see:What is the origin of Valentine’s Day? (rs p. 176-p. 182; Watchtower Online Library)Saints (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate St. Valentine's Day?(Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Christmas?

This article will further address these reasons why Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas. (Read entire article)

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARE NOT A CULT

People who oppose Jehovah's Witnesses like to use the word 'cult' to describe them because it has a general negative connotation. They are counting on people who are not familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses to simply accept this false label and then repeat what they have been told...(Read entire article)

Search this site

Search For Bible Truths

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Birthdays?

To provide a basis in understanding why Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays...there needs to be an honest examination to Bible references and principles regarding birthdays...(Read entire article)

Find a Meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses

The King of the North, the King of the South and the "Time of the End”

The political identities of these two kings have changed as the battle between them continued for the past 2,000 years and down into our day. Considering that this prophecy also concerns "the time of the end" (Daniel 12:4), this should be of interest to us. This is because this prophecy could give us a clear view of where we are in the stream of time....(Read entire article)

Natural Disasters Today - Is God Really Responsible?

Not only does the Bible shed light on whether God sends natural disasters to punish mankind today, but it also sheds light on what is behind the suffering that so many experience....(Read entire article)

Do All Kingdom Halls NOT Have Windows?

This website is NOT an official website of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

This is a personal website that is not officially supported nor endorsed by the WBTS. The Watchtower Society cannot be held responsible for the content found on this blog/website.

Links are offered here for additional reading, however the manager of this site does not necessarily support every comment on all of these sites. You are invited to conduct your own research.

To those who are not Jehovah's Witnesses, please remember that if you are looking for the authoritative information on beliefs, practices and news releases you should look to the source at http://www.jw.org/en/

Unique Visits

.

Any advertisements or sponsors that happen to appear on these pages will have been placed here without the site Manager's approval and may not reflect our morals or beliefs.